Kidman has her eyes wide open for Australian bid
By Duncan Mackay
December 1 – Hollywood star Nicole Kidman (pictured) has lent her voice to Australia’s bid for the 2018 or 2022 FIFA World Cups.
World Cup
Anson claims England 2018 have the right strategy
By Andrew Warshaw in Johannesburg
December 1 – England’s 2018 World Cup bid team today launched a passionate defence of their campaign here as the public relations war among bidding nations intensified.
Exclusive: Blatter still against joint World Cup bids
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By Andrew Warshaw
January 1 - FIFA President Sepp Blatter (pictured) will be more likely to support sole nations bidding for the 2018 and 2022 World Cups than joint bids, insideworldfootball has learned.
Tutu backs Australian World Cup bid
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By David Owen
December 1 – The Australian bid for the 2018 and 2022 World Cups has scored a major coup by securing backing from Emeritus Archbishop Desmond Tutu (pictured).
Oscar winning actress to join Beckham at World Cup draw
By Duncan Mackay in Johannesburg
December 1 – South African Oscar-winning actress Charlize Theron (pictured) has been named as the guest presenter for the 2010 World Cup draw in Cape Town on Friday, and will be joined on stage by a host of sporting celebrities including David Beckham, Haile Gebrselassie and Makhaya Ntini.
England ambassadors begin to spread the word for 2018 World Cup bid
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By Duncan Mackay in Johannesburg
November 30 – Paul Elliott, the former Chelsea and Celtic defender who is a member of England 2018’s Board, today met with FIFA Executive Committee member Amos Adamu (pictured) at Soccerex, the global football convention.
Australia promises “no worries” World Cup
By Duncan Mackay in Johannesburg
November 30 – Australia will offer to host a “no worries” FIFA World Cup as it goes head to head with its nine rivals for the first time in its bid for the 2018 or 2022 tournaments, it has promised.
Blatter full of praise for South African World Cup preparations
By Duncan Mackay in Johannesburg
November 30 – Sepp Blatter has praised the South African Football Association (SAFA) for its preparations for next year’s World Cup after meeting its new President, Kirsten Nematandani, here.
Durban opening turns into damp squib but officials still delighted
November 29 – Durban’s new 70,000-seater World Cup stadium opened today, but rain kept the crowd down to around 15,000.
Brazilian President backs England bid as Triesman calls for unity
By Duncan Mackay in Johannesburg
November 29 – England’s bid to host the 2018 World Cup received another morale-boosting endorsement today when Brazil’s President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva (pictured) said that England deserved to host the tournament for the first time in more than half-a-century.
Exclusive: Belgian and Dutch bid singing in harmony on World Cup says D’Hooghe
By David Owen
November 29 – Belgium and Holland can set an example for smaller countries by showing that they too can become candidates to host a World Cup, according to Michel D’Hooghe (pictured), the Bruges-based doctor who is chairman of FIFA’s Medical Committee.
Lineker insists he is not England 2018’s Lord Coe
By Duncan Mackay
November 28 – Gary Lineker (pictured), the man many are trying to persuade to take over from Lord Triesman as the leader of England’s bid to host the 2018 World Cup, tonight insisted that his commitments with the BBC would rule him out from playing a more prominent role.
Spectacular Durban World Cup stadium set to open
By Duncan Mackay
November 28 – The first official match to be staged at Durban’s new R3.1 billion (£254 million) World Cup venue, the Moses Mabhida Stadium, a South African Premier League match between AmaZulu and Maritzburg United tomorrow, has sold out.
Qatar first to arrive in South Africa for Soccerex
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By Duncan Mackay in Johannesburg
November 28 – Qatar were the first of the countries bidding for the 2018 or 2022 World Cup to arrive here today to attend Soccerex, the global football conference.
Warner meets British and Australian Prime Ministers to discuss World Cup bids
By Duncan Mackay
November 27 – Jack Warner, the FIFA vice-president, has met the British and Australian Prime Ministers Gordon Brown (pictured) and Kevin Rudd to discuss the countries respective bids to host the World Cup in 2018 or 2022.